Mack losing patience with questions by citizens, press

TRENTON — The stress of Mayor Tony Mack’s impending indictment seems to be wearing on his demeanor with city residents.

Tensions were flaring and a shroud of frustration hung heavy in the air, during the third “Meet the Mayor” session held at City Hall on Tuesday. As Mayor Mack dodged questions regarding his arrest and friendship with accused sex offender Joseph “JoJo” Giorgianni from local citizens who attended the meeting, bystanders and members of the media which were seated around the conference table were treated to a show filled with heated discussions and an obviously flustered city leader.

The mayor, who was seemingly tired of defending his work and his administration, accused residents of using the media’s presence to air their concerns and to voice their opinions in the hopes their voice will be displayed in print and on television. “I think moving forward we will only have residents attend this meeting, because I think you are using the press here,” Mack said.

“Have you given any consideration from your relationship with Jo-Jo … here’s a man, who’s a known felon, has a known history of child abuse, and he’s been by your side up until the arrests and raids,” said Mill Hill resident Jon Nelson during the weekly meeting. “Looking back on that relationship, and it was so public, do you have second thoughts about it or is that friendship still as strong as it was?”

Mack did not offer Nelson an answer, but simply thanked him for the question before moving on to another resident. “I’m done with that question … I made it crystal clear, as with the direction we were going with that,” Mack said.

Nelson called out Mack’s rude behavior and protested the Mayor’s diversion. “If you continue to be out of control, we’re going to ask you to leave,” Mack said when Nelson badgered to gain an answer to his question.

The fireworks continued to fly during the hour long meeting, where residents battled with the mayor regarding issues surrounding their homes and wondered why department directors have not responded to repeated e-mail and phone-call attempts by citizens to address problems in their neighborhood. “Tony, you know my problem, because you inspected my house in person,” said resident John Naar. “I have tried six times to contact Luis Mollinedo personally but he never contacted me back.”

Naar has been trying to get the city to fix the hole in the Mill Hill Park which abuts his property for over a year. Although former public works director Harold Hall had tried to proceed with a plan to fix the issues, according to Naar, the new director, Mollinedo, has not done much to contact the resident.

“This is a serious emergency danger to the visitors to the park but also to myself and my property,” said Naar. Mack assured Naar that he would follow up with Mollinedo during their cabinet meeting.

“I get your point, you make it very clear,” Mack said abruptly cutting the senior citizens’ comments short.

Trenton’s most recent homicide, of a 17-year-old teen who crashed his car and died from a gunshot wound, Monday evening, was also a topic of discussion. “The violence of this city is out of control, there is nothing being done,” one concerned citizen said.

“The time for parks and learning centers (is over). That’s not a priority right now … we’ve had 14 homicides since Sept. 1. Can you put in a mandatory curfew tonight?”

“You will not get an argument out of me on your comment,” said Mack. “We talked about some measures we are taking next week to increase police presence in our city.” (Since Tuesday’s meeting, another four young men were shot, one in critical condition at press time.)

The mayor tried to console outraged citizens by offering a repeated pre-fabricated line, “We’ll get back to you with the answers.”

However that didn’t seem to appease the citizens, who were frustrated by the lack of information they had received from the mayor. “I want to follow up on what this gentleman is asking, as to what effect these meetings are having?” asked Naar. “Could I ask you, say, next week on specific issues that have been raised, that you will not only say you have contacted the director but action A,B,C as follow up.”

“I will not guarantee that, but I will guarantee there will be a status update,” said Mack.

Mack also defended his inability to follow up personally to each citizen’s inquiry, citing his lack of manpower. “I only have one person working for me full time, and that is Anthony Roberts.”

Roberts, who also participated in verbal duels with those who sat around the table during the meeting, was the focus of attack by residents who did not appreciate Roberts’ lack of respect. “Going forward can that one person who works for you, Mr. Roberts, be more professional,” asked a resident. “He gets into spots with residents, and he is unprofessional and he forgets he works for us.”

Journalists who attended the roundtable questioned if the Mayor’s corruption scandal may be hindering his ability to run the city. “Do you think you’re doing the best job with that?” one reporter asked.

“I don’t judge myself,” Mack said. “That’s up for the voters and in a couple years they’ll decide if I’m doing a good job.”

The focus of the meeting turned to a lighter topic when The Trentonian asked about future holiday events scheduled in the days to come, “We have a tree lighting on Friday,” said Mack. However he was not able to answer if other religions will be included in the holiday festivities and made no comment regarding a possible menorah in time for Hanukkah or a candle lighting in time for Kwanzaa.

When asked why the Christmas tree, which stood almost two stories tall inside City Hall’s atrium, was cluttered with a pictures of the Mayor, he said, “I have not seen the Christmas tree, I have not seen the pictures.”

“Well, maybe you and I can take a picture and I can put you up there,” the Mayor said to the Trentonian reporter.